1985 Map of Shungnak B-4

About this map

The Continental Divide crests across this remote landscape, separating the drainage systems of the Selawik River to the north and the Koyukuk River to the south. This 1985 provisional edition, based on 1971 photography, documents a wilderness area largely preserved within the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain is dominated by the Purcell Mountains, with Purcell Mountain serving as a primary landmark. Evidence of human presence is sparse but specific, including a remote Air Strip and isolated mines tucked into the mountain slopes. These features, along with a solitary trail, suggest a landscape defined by subsistence and resource exploration rather than permanent settlement. Waterways like Shinikrok Creek and Ingruksukruk Creek wind through the valleys, providing a detailed record of the region's complex hydrology before significant modern alterations.